Aston Martin Takes 1-2 at British GT Championship

Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3s took first and second place in the third round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Silverstone yesterday (1 June), as Motorbase-run Oman Racing Team took the top step of the podium and 2013 championship-winners Beechdean AMR finished close behind.

Gaydon, 2 June 2014 - Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3s took first and second place in the third round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Silverstone yesterday (1 June), as Motorbase-run Oman Racing Team took the top step of the podium and 2013 championship-winners Beechdean AMR finished close behind.

The British GT Championship sees professional GT drivers paired up with the country’s top-level GT amateur drivers to take on endurance races on Britain’s top racing tracks and it was 2013 championship winner Andrew Howard (GB) and his professional team-mate Jonny Adam (GB) who qualified on pole.

“It was actually our first pole for the Vantage GT3 in British GT,” commented Adam. “Andrew's lap was stunning. It was important to get that clear lap when the Avon tyre was at its peak performance and we both achieved this in qualifying.”

However, despite Beechdean AMR’s pole position start, it was Michael Caine (GB) and team-mate Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) who took victory in the #4 Oman Racing car with the Beechdean boys in second place.

“I’m really happy and proud," comments Al Harthy. "You know, this is the one you want to win, the Silverstone 500. The team did a great job, everybody really performed well and that is what made us win - perfect teamwork.

"The car felt really good and Michael’s stints were good so I’m really proud for the team, you can see how much this means to us especially after Rockingham. To come back and win and show our true pace was amazing."

At the chequered flag, five of the top ten finishers were Aston Martins; MP Motorsport’s Richard Abra (GB) and Mark Poole (GB) in eighth, the #5 Oman Racing Team of Liam Griffin (GB) and Rory Butcher (GB) in ninth and the Strata21 of Tom Onslow-Cole (GB) and Paul White (GB) in tenth.

There was also success for the V8 Vantage GT4 as TF Sport stood on the third step of the class podium with drivers Devon Modell (GB) and Andrew Jarman (GB). The pair now sits on top of the championship driver standings with Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 drivers Jake Giddings (GB) and Ross Wylie (GB) of Beechdean AMR just three points behind.

“It was a great weekend for Aston Martin Racing customers,” comments Aston Martin Racing team principal John Gaw. “It’s a very competitive championship and no one is running away with it in either class as we go into the middle of the season, but our V12 Vantage GT3 and V8 Vantage GT4s are proving to be the cars to beat.

“We have Snetterton and Spa coming up and our cars should do really well at both. Our teams are doing a great job and we will continue to be at every race to support them.”

The Aston Martin GT4 Challenge once again ran as a support race to the British GT Championship and it was brothers Liam and Kieran Griffin (GB) who took their second race-win of the season with Jade Edwards (GB) and Paul Whight (GB) in second. The V8 Vantage GT4 of Mike Brown (GB) and Paul Cripps (GB) completed the podium.

The fourth round of the British GT Championship takes place at Snetterton on 21 June. The fourth round of the GT4 Challenge takes place on 29 June at Brands Hatch as it supports the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) annual festival.